Ending discrimination on the basis of sexuality

13 March 2006

Outlawing discrimination by pubs, hotels and restaurants to gay and lesbian customers is at the heart of a DTI consultation published today.

Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson announced last year that the Government would make regulations in 2006 under the Equality Act to ban discrimination based on sexuality in the provision of goods, facilities and services.

Alan Johnson said:

"It's easy to forget how far we have come in the past eight years. We have repealed clause 28, equalised the age of consent for gay men and introduced civil partnerships. Now we are going even further.

"Too often, gay and lesbian people can face discrimination in their everyday lives. I want to make sure that no one gets refused a room at a hotel or a table in a restaurant because of their sexuality. We intend to end this sort of discrimination and make sure that gay men, lesbians and bisexual people can enjoy the same rights and freedoms as heterosexual people.

"We are committed to bringing in this legislation in October and this consultation seeks views on detailed questions about how it will apply."

Views are being sought on the following areas:

how religious organisations and faith schools should be covered by the regulations;
whether or not exceptions should be provided in a few specific areas such as to allow sexual health clinics for gay men or lesbians to continue to target their services to these groups; and
how charities should be covered by the regulations.

Notes

1 A copy of the consultation document can be found at http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/

2 The consultation period will close on 5 June 2006 and the Government intends to introduce the new regulations in October this year.

3 The Equality Act received Royal Assent on 16th February 2006. Further details can be found at http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/

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